AUSTIN – St. Edward's women's basketball scored 43 second half points on their way to a 72-64 win over Texas A&M-Kingsville Thursday evening.
 
SEU started well and led by five early, but Kingsville responded and led briefly in the first quarter as well. A three-point play by CHARLI BECKER with 30 seconds left in the quarter gave the Hilltoppers a one point lead, 16-15 at the end of the frame.
 
The lead bounced back and forth with two ties and seven lead changes in the second quarter, sending the Hilltoppers into the break trailing by one point, 30-29.
 
MCCALL HAMPTON hit a jumper to start the third quarter and put SEU on top and the Hilltoppers continued to build throughout the quarter, extending their lead to ten, 52-42 at the end of the third.
 
St. Edward's had their largest lead of the game, 12 points, on LAUREN CATHERMAN's jumper with 8:26 remaining and SEU confidently closed out the contest, never allowing the Javelinas closer than four points down the stretch.
 
Becker led the Hilltoppers with 14 points as SEU shot 43.1 percent from the floor in the game and near 50 percent in the second half. Catherman and JAZMINE JACKSON added 11 points each while Hampton posted ten.
 
The Hilltoppers were strong on the boards as well, outrebounding the Javelinas 43-37. Jackson led with eight and Catherman seven.
 
St. Edward's improves to 4-7 on the season and 4-7 in Lone Star Conference play. They return to the road to face TAMUK on the return trip on Saturday at 5 pm.